Gurkhas return from Afghanistan

Gurkha soldiers returning to Kent after a six-month tour of duty in Afghanistan have been greeted with pipes and drums at their Folkestone headquarters.

Friends and families gathered to welcome members of the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Gurkha Rifles back to the Sir John Moore Barracks in Shorncliffe.

The battalion lost two of its members in Afghanistan last November.

Rifleman Yubraj Rai was killed on 4 November and Colour Sergeant Krishnabahadur Dura died 11 days later.

The homecoming parade took place on Sunday afternoon.

Cliff-top memorial

Designs are being considered for a statue to be built above the cliffs close to where the 2nd Battalion are based in honour of fallen Gurkha soldiers.

The memorial is likely to be a statue of a modern day Gurkha in full battle dress, designed and made by a local artist.

Folkestone town councillor Dhan Gurung, who is thought to be the first retired Gurkha to be elected to public office in the UK is organising the memorial.

Some 45,000 Gurkhas are believed to have lost their lives fighting for Britain.

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